Stripe

Photojournalist/Account Representative - Kansas City, MO

Dave Baxter, a.k.a. Stripe joined our staff in December, 2003, as a photojournalist. If that road name sounds familiar, you may have seen his photos on the pages of such publications as American Iron, V Twin, VQ, In the Wind, and Easyriders. Stripe attends as many rallies, bike shows, and charity runs as he can and is a major contributor of photos and articles to our magazine. His first assignment was our January, 2004, cover photo, where he snapped the awesome photo of a 1958 Harley-Davidson Duo Glide. A rider since the age of 14, he loves to help and encourage new riders. Stripe enjoys meeting new people and looks forward to catching many of our readers in the viewfinder of his digital camera. Contact Stripe at stripe@cycleconnections.com

It is well known that the Sturgis Rally has its roots in motorcycle racing. Clarence “Pappy” Hoel is recognized as the father of the Black Hills Rally. He was the owner of an Indian Motorcycle franchise is Sturgis and was one of the founders of the Jackpine Gypsies club in 1936. Their first event was known as the Black Hills Classic, a single motorcycle race with nine racers and a small audience. Today’s rally attendance approaches 500,000 annually with record numbers expected for the 75th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle RallyTM . As I mentioned in my accompanying article about my 2014 Sturgis experience, I devoted much of my time to attending motorcycle races.

Having missed the 2013 Sturgis Rally due to circumstances beyond my control, I was very excited to return to the Black Hills for the 74th annual rally. Having enjoyed the journey with friends to our cabin at the Nemo Guest Ranch, I was ready to experience the rally once again. My first stop in Sturgis on Monday was Grace Lutheran Church where breakfast is available daily during the rally. One of the church members who normally volunteers in the kitchen is Dorothy Short in whose back yard I camped during many past rallies. I was disappointed that Dorothy had not yet arrived that morning, but I enjoyed the $7 breakfast anyway.

Oklahoma Bike Week at Sparks America Campground ran from June 19 through 29. Doc Lonnie Blum and I decided to make the trip from Missouri to Sparks on Thursday, June 26. After checking in and setting up camp, we headed for the “playground” area that is the center of many of the rally’s activities. A couple of major changes were immediately apparent. The sound system is now controlled from a tower in front of the stage instead of from a cubbyhole at the side. The stage has been rebuilt and is now two stages in one, separated by a wall in the center. That facilitates having the equipment for the musical entertainment separated from other on-stage activities.

On July 4 the sport of motorcycle racing returned to Dodge City, Kansas, on a very small track but in a very big way. When the organizers of the Dodge City 300 Centennial celebration began drafting their schedule of events, it was only natural that racing would be included. Initially, the plan was for the competition to take place on the 1/8-mile clay oval at Dodge City Raceway Park, but a scheduling conflict developed with the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series, so an alternative location was required. After some imaginative planning, it was decided that the Dodge City Roundup rodeo arena could be adapted for a short track racing event. Hay bales were laid out in an oval pattern to mark the inside of the racing surface, and more bales were set up to keep the competitors separated from the steel fences around the arena perimeter. The surface was soft and sandy, and the term “flat track” racing was never more appropriate since there was no banking at all. It was a unique setup to test the considerable skills and adaptability of the racers.

A century ago, Dodge City, Kansas, was the site of a world championship 300-mile motorcycle race on a 2-mile dirt oval on the northeast corner of town. The field included motorcycles manufactured by Indian, Thor, Excelsior, Pope, Flying Merkel, Harley-Davidson, and others. The race, sanctioned by the Federation of American Motorcycles, took almost 4-1/2 hours to complete with speeds reaching nearly 100 miles per hour. The winner was factory Indian rider Glen “Slivers” Boyd. Bill Brier finished second on a Thor, and Carl Goudy came in third aboard an Excelsior. Dodge City racing continued for many years, but was suspended during times of war. Later championship racing moved on to other locations and shorter tracks. Races sponsored by the Jackpine Gypsies became the nucleus for South Dakota’s famous motorcycle rally at Sturgis.

Rain during the morning of June 7 hurt the attendance at the 12th Annual Ride for Ryan at St. Joseph, Missouri. Still, many riders suited up in their rain gear and headed for St. Joe Harley-Davidson for the ride to honor the memory of Ryan Consolver who lost his life on August 11, 2002, at the age of 24 in a motorcycle accident in North Kansas City. Funds raised by the event are used for a scholarship fund dedicated to students who, as Ryan did, have chosen to pursue careers in the construction industry. This year 19 students received scholarships from the fund. The 12-year total amounts to more than $130,000. There were 105 bikes in the ride this year, and about $35,000 was contributed.

Blue Springs Harley-Davidson in Blue Springs, Missouri, was the starting and ending point for the 8th Annual Wheels for a Cure ride on June 14. Riders each donated at least $25 and passengers $10 with the proceeds going to ArtBra KC, an organization whose, “mission is to uniquely celebrate breast cancer survivors and provide funding for Kansas City area organizations that provide life-empowering services to uninsured and underinsured individuals who have been touched by cancer.” According to the organization’s website, “Missys’ Boutique Patient In Need Fund at The University of Kansas Hospital in The Richard and Annette Bloch Cancer Care Pavilion and the new cancer appearance center at the The Richard and Annette Bloch Cancer Center at Truman Medical Center are accredited appearance centers dedicated to helping patients overcome obstacles with dignity and style. These centers offer services and select products designed just for cancer patients and survivors – to help them through their cancer journey. ArtBra KC is a major benefactor of Missys’ Boutique, named in memory of Melissa Malter Newell and Ann Wilcox O’Neill, both affectionately known as Missy.” Each year, the organization hosts an auction event featuring work-of-art bras, and the models are breast cancer survivors. Much more information is available on the Art Bra KC website.